Fethullah Gulen has been accused by Turkish President Erdogan of ordering the launch of July coup

Lawyers for the imam living in Pennsylvania whom Turkish authorities accuse of directing a coup last month in that country said Friday they fear for his life and may ask U.S. authorities to help protect him.

Since the failed coup that led to the deaths of 271 people, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoganhas accused the imam, Fethullah Gulen, of issuing instructions to launch the coup, a charge Mr. Gulen has denied.

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Erdogan Worked With Gulen in Previous Military Purges

When Recep Tayyip Erdogan rose to power in 2003, he neutralized a potential threat from Turkey’s secular military leadership by promoting like-minded Islamists who were followers of a key ally, Turkish Imam Fethullah Gulen. Now Erdogan says the U.S.-based cleric is a sworn enemy who he says was behind last weekend’s failed military coup. Photo: Getty